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Attitudes, Behavior, and Social Practice: H C University of Maryland School of Social Work
Attitudes, Behavior, and Social Practice: H C University of Maryland School of Social Work
Harris Chaiklin
University of Maryland
School of Social Work
31
32 Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare
The difference between psychological and sociological def-
initions will be used to further the analysis. A psychological
definition of attitude identifies a verbal expression as behavior.
Those who use a psychological definition of attitude attempt
to reduce prejudice and discrimination by changing attitudes.
A sociological definition of attitude looks at verbal expression
as an intention to act. Common to sociological definitions is
the view that an attitude is a “mental position with regard to
a fact or state or a feeling or emotion toward a fact or state”
(Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary). Those whose use a
sociological definition of attitude attempt to reduce prejudice
and discrimination by changing behavior. In considering the
difference between the two approaches, a practical question
concerns the order of change in working with people to handle
what life brings them. Is it necessary to change attitudes before
behavior can change, is it enough just to change behavior, or
must one deal with both simultaneously? These questions
reflect a fundamental methodological concern in trying to
change prejudice and discrimination. C. Wright Mills (1959)
held that the disparity between verbal and overt behavior is
the central methodological problem in the social sciences.
The attitude is far less damaging than the act. For those
who would assert that action flows from attitudes, it
is relevant to point out that to an even greater extent
the attitude results from the pattern of action to which
individuals and groups have been accustomed. (1968b,
pp. 38-39)
Conclusion
The answer to the questions which initiated this paper is
that while attitudes are important, most attention must be paid
to behavior if prejudice and discrimination are to be reduced,
that is, to fair and enforceable rules and laws. For the most part
these exist. What is lacking is the enforcement.
What stands out in this review on the state of knowledge
about the ability of attitudes to predict behavior is that it is
murky and not a great deal of progress has been made in clari-
fying the matter. The one thing that methodological advances
have clarified is that attitudes have some utility in predicting
behavior when it is not a problem to the person and there is
social acceptance of its expression in action.
It is not necessary to change attitudes to change behavior.
Those who insist on the reverse reflect the current infatuation
with postmodernism that many social scientists and social
workers have. One of its outstanding characteristics is to ques-
tion whether truth can be established. This leaves a world filled
with relative truths. They take the tendency for social science
research to be cast in ways that support the current social order
and build it into a conspiracy. Under the new rules, knowledge
must now pass a political test.
Eighty years of research has done little to improve the
ability to predict behavior from attitude. This has not pre-
vented numerous universities, governmental agencies, and
Attitudes,
Behavior, and Social Practice 49
businesses from developing programs whose aim is to create
more positive attitudes. Unfortunately, those who focus on at-
titudes often create the attitudes they claim to be changing. In
human relations training, the chief result is that people rein-
force the attitudes they have when they went into training.
Too great an emphasis on trying to control or change atti-
tudes threatens freedom. In our society, those who would sacri-
fice the first amendment in an attempt to coerce people into the
proper attitudinal expression are also those who would take
away our democracy. One of the things social workers should
expect from sociologists is that they help them stay focused on
the nature of these threats (Chaiklin, 1997). Some people may
be so hurt by words that their lives are disrupted. That is to
be regretted and they should have access to all the help they
need to cope with the pressures. This includes legal redress.
The same rights should also be available to the victims of
coerced counseling and mandated sensitivity groups. We need
to know when people will act on their words. While attitudes
are important, there can be no real movement toward social
justice unless major attention is given to behavior. This paper
began with an epigram. It ends with another one. “Actions
speak louder than words.”
References